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Anglesey: £20m refurbishment for Holyhead breakwater

Getty Images Aerial Views of the port of Holyhead, Anglesey, North WalesGetty Images
The Holyhead breakwater has been standing for 150 years

A Victorian breakwater will undergo a £20m refurbishment to help protect an Anglesey port's ferry service and prevent flooding.

The Welsh government announced the funding for the work at Holyhead.

The barrier has stood for 150 years and has protected Holyhead from the Irish Sea, but erosion has threatened its stability.

The total cost of work on the barrier, which is owned by ferry company Stena Line, is estimated to be £110m.

Earlier this year the UK government pledged £20m, meaning the budget has doubled with the Welsh government's £20m loan.

Ian Davies, head of UK port authorities at Stena Line, said: "The Victorians built this fantastic piece of infrastructure, but unfortunately the one piece that was missing was the rock armour protection to give it longevity.

"Over its 150-odd years life it's now been undermined from constant wave erosion and tidal erosion to the point where - structurally the top looks fine - but the rubble mound that it sits on top of has virtually worn away."

Getty Images Strong winds cause the waves to hit the breakwater at Holyhead as the Irish Ferries ship Isle of Inishmore pulls into the harbour on the Island of Anglesey in WalesGetty Images
The barrier protects Holyhead port from the Irish Sea

The Welsh government said the breakwater gave the port "essential protection".

It said that without it the waves would be "too severe for the operation of ferries and could result in the loss of service, and ultimately the closure of the port. The breakwater also protects several businesses and premises from flooding".

On a visit to the port on Friday, First Minister Mark Drakeford said: "Any one of us on our own could not find the very large sum of money that will be necessary, but by coming together we are able to do that.

"There is a wider public interest. It isn't simply the company that benefits. It's all those possibilities for new jobs; new industries can come to this part of Wales with a thriving port at its heart."

Anglesey council leader Llinos Medi said: "It's quite an important landmark for Holyhead and I'm not sure how many people had realised how concerned we were about the structure itself.

"Now we are securing that for nearly 200 years and their families will benefit from it.

"The breakwater will also be a vital component in Holyhead's new Freeport status, designed to make it easier for goods to be imported and exported."

The investment comes following the UK government Budget announcement.

Welsh Secretary David TC Davies said: "This is a Budget which supports the UK government's ambitions for Wales while continuing to tackle the huge challenges we face."